The Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky unveiled a modified Uh-60 Black Hawk military helicopter in unmanned version that it calls the “S-70UAS U-Hawk” at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exposition in Washington, DC on Monday.
The cockpit and loader’s area have been replaced with front-opening “clamshell” doors that allow better access to its increased load capacity, upped by 25% to around 4.5 tons (10,000 pounds).
According to the company’s promotional video the unmanned version of the Black Hawk was developed in just ten months and includes 95% component commonality with the UH-60 fleet which simplifies logistics, maintenance, and repair operations.
Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky’s director of innovations said the changes made to the original airframe included newly developed system management computers, actuation components, and other modifications that would be integrated into future upgrades of both manned and unmanned aircraft systems.
Other changes are more than “skin deep.” The U-Hawk incorporates Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy software and a new fly-by-wire system that allows the aircraft to take off, fly, and land entirely under self-directed control.
Once cargo is loaded it is launched by the operator using a table interface after which the MATRIX software, that was developed for more than a decade, takes over flying the aircraft to its destination using a combination of onboard sensors and algorithms to navigate and avoid obstacles.
Sikorsky says the U-Hawk has a range of around 3,000 kilometers (1,850 miles) and can remain airborne for up to 14 hours without refueling.
Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager says, “The U-Hawk continues the Black Hawk legacy of being the world’s premier utility aircraft.” He said that it opens the door to new capabilities for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), saying that the U-Hawk is designed to perform a wide range of operations including ammunition and combat supplies transportation and the possibility to deploy unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) or aerial drone swarms from its internal cargo bay in flight.
According to the Lockheed Martin press release, cited by The War Zone military issues website this uncrewed Black Hawk will be able to carry up to four US military-standard Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMIC) – in a combined internal and underslung load – twice that of a conventional Black Hawk.
It has the capability to externally carry an M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) missile pod, or two Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) in their launch canisters.
The aircraft is expected to become operational next year where it is envisaged to be seen as one of the most capable rotary-wing cargo drones with potential applications to provide uncrewed logistic support in both the military and civil arenas.